Der Chott el Djerid ist ein riesiger, abflussloser Salzsee und liegt in der grossen Depression, die Tunesien zentral durchzieht. Seine Oberfläche liegt nur knapp über dem Meeresspiegel, verkrustet im Sommer zu einer salzigen Ebene und verschlammt während der winterlichen Regenfälle. Ganzjährig zu überqueren ist er seit 1979 auf einem fast 30km langen Damm. Doch wir entschieden uns für die Umrundung und fuhren erstmal gen Westen, dann auf der grenznahen Strasse nach Norden, wo wir bereits einen Blick über den neu errichteten Wall auf Algerien werfen können, und danach durch das “Land der Dattelpalmen” und am Fuss der nördlichen Berge wieder weit weit nach Osten.
Hi!
As I understood – you are on a trip now in Tunisia or Algeria?
We plan to go there in February. Our plan is to come with ferry from Palermo to Tunisia, then Algeria (visas are now in process), then leave with a ferry to Spain.
My main question is – how it is with all bike Custom things? For bringing the bike in to Tunisia, then to Algeria? Was it hard or easy? Did you get some problems? Any suggestions?
Another question about some obligatory guidances in some areas? Are there places where we must have a local guide? Is it possible to enter Algeria without a guide at all?
Thanks,
Martins (from Latvia)
Hi Martins.
Yes, as you can see from our itinerary, we have just arrived in Timimoun:
https://cantone-libero.ch/category/reisen/afrika-2022-2023
We are travelling with a car, but motorcycles are certainly subject to the same import rules and the matter was problem-free.
For Tunisia (for Swiss at least) only proof of insurance is required, which shows that the current vehicle insurance in Tunisia is valid.
When entering Algeria, a so-called TPD (Titre de Passage en Douane) is issued directly at the border and you have to take out an additional Algerian insurance on site.
For Tunisia it is more important to have a hotel reservation! We found it at the border that people without one were denied entry.
Officially, trips to the south (approximately south of the Adrar-Ouargla line) are only allowed with a guide and sometimes escorts. If you have the visas, then this does not apply in the north.
But we ourselves have been in Algeria for almost a month now, have entered without a guide, are traveling without guides and escorts and have been moving completely freely so far 🙂
For a successful trip!
Stephan